AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala was betraying a 2011 vow to her mentor J Jayalalithaa by staking claim to form the government, caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam alleged on Thursday, attempting to discredit his rival in a bruising intraparty fight.

O Panneerselvam addresses media at his residence in Chennai.(HT Photo)

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala was betraying a 2011 vow to her mentor J Jayalalithaa by staking claim to form the government, caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam alleged on Thursday, attempting to discredit his rival in a bruising intraparty fight.

At a press conference in Chennai, Panneerselvam also paraded the support of senior AIADMK leader and legislator E Madhusudanan, who worked with Jayalalithaa and her mentor MG Ramachandran for more than 50 years.

Panneerselvam read out a letter Sasikala allegedly wrote to her mentor Jayalalithaa, seeking apology for her actions and promised not to seek any political position and use her influence.

Jayalalithaa allowed Sasikala – her confidante of over three decades -- back into her residence at Chennai’s Poes Gardens, months after throwing her out in October 2011.